Ex-United star David May organises party to 'celebrate' Manchester City’s 35 years without a trophy

May, from Oldham, who won a European Cup with the Reds, has organised a party marking the Blues’ recent lack of success on the night before the next Manchester derby. Fans will be charged £20 for the United Nights event on February 11, which is being billed on a fans forum as City 35th Anniversary Party.

A former United star is planning a city centre bash – to celebrate the anniversary of City’s 35th year without a trophy.

David May, who won a European Cup with the Reds, has organised a party marking the Blues’ recent lack of success on the night before the next Manchester derby.

Fans will be charged £20 for the United Nights event on February 11, which is being billed on a fans forum as City 35th Anniversary Party.

Fellow ex-Reds Frank Stapleton, Arthur Albiston and Clayton Blackmore, are also expected to attend the bash at the Walkabout Bar on Quay Street.

The M.E.N. understands the Stretford End ‘ticker’ banner, which celebrates City’s barren spell, will be ‘turned’ from 34 to 35 during the party.

Advertising the event on his blog, May, 40, wrote: “The next United Night has landed perfectly, it is before the biggest game of the season, A TITLE DECIDER WITH CITY AT OLD TRAFFORD IN FEB. Hundreds of Reds getting together for a night they will never forget.

“WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING CITY NOT WINNING A TROPHY IN 35 YEARS!!! HA HA. SEE YOU THERE!!!!”

After the M.E.N. contacted May, the final sentence and a picture of the ‘ticker’ banner were taken down. He said the event was part of the traditional ‘banter’ between fans and was not meant to offend.

He added: “It’s one of the biggest derbies in a long time and I’m sure the fans will be singing about it and the players will be asked about it. It’s friendly banter.”

The event is the latest of the United Nights, which were set up by May aimed at fans travelling to Old Trafford matches from Ireland and Scandinavia. Live bands perform and supporters get the chance to mix with ex-players and sing United songs.

A spokesman from United Nights said: “This is not a City Anniversary night. Some fans may have described it as that but we haven’t. There are 300 Norwegians coming over and they know nothing about City’s history. It’s an event we have before every big United match.”

GMP said they had no plans to police the meeting.

The Blues last won a major trophy – the League Cup – on February 28, 1976.

United fans often use the fact to taunt their rivals and the ‘34 years’ banner takes pride of place in a corner of the Stretford End. City boss Roberto Mancini promised to ‘take that banner down’ last year declaring City would soon win a trophy.

May, from Oldham, joined the Reds from Blackburn in 1994. He was part of the Reds squad that won the treble in 1999. He was a City fan and as a youngster had trials with the Blues before joining Blackburn.

Madchester band The Fraudsters have been signed to play the event and there will also be an auction and a raffle. The derby is at Old Trafford on February 12.